"Hotel Rwanda"

Earlier this morning I sat down and watched the film, "Hotel Rwanda". There's no question. It's already on my list of personal favorites.

A gritty, intense, and very moving film, "Hotel Rwanda" tells the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (actor Don Cheadle), a resourceful Hutu manager of a posh, dignified hotel located within Rwanda. In 1994, he helped over a thousand Tutsi refugees by keeping them safe inside his hotel, while mass genocide broke loose outside the hotel walls.

In many ways I liken this film to another favorite of mine, "Schlinder's List". But this is Paul's story, and the violent overthrow is seen through his eyes, or overheard on Hutu radio broadcasts. We watch Paul as he sprints around his hotel trying to keep the Hutu army out, the ineffective U.N. officials (lead by actor Nick Nolte) in, and protect his own Tutsi family while his supplies dwindle, members of his staff turn on him, and hope slowly slips away.

As Paul, Don Cheadle offers a brilliant performance -- perhaps even his best so far. It's a touching performance with both a desperate internal struggle, and the external need to keep calm under duress with the lives of so many in his care. Cheadle continues to prove that he's far more of an actor than he's been given credit for. He's a great actor. Without him, the film would be lost.

If you haven't seen "Hotel Rwanda" yet, rent it. It needs to be seen.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 5:53 AM  I   I  0 comments